Considering becoming an LPN-need the dirty details

[mrswarters]

I am getting ready to join the air force reserves, and 1 of the job options open to me is the equivolent of an lpn, and I can take the boards or challenge them, right after my training is complete. I've never really considered nursing because I assumed it'd mean taking care of gaping wounds, or somebodys feces. My recruiter is saying that as an LPN those things wouldnt fall on me. But they'll say anything to get you to sign so I want to ask you real life lpns. What is the worst of "gross" stuff and how often do these types of jobs fall to you. Thanks for your time.

[guest2210]

It depends mostly on where you will be working. Even as a charge nurse, part of my job description was to do wound care and yes, cleaning up someone else's feces. But you will learn how to do all that in your training.

[Leelee2]

"But they'll say anything to get you to sign"

True. As an LPN, direct patient care is still very much part of the job. I help people transfer, assist them in the bathroom, feed, etc. In some form or another this is everyday. I also assess patients, take vitals, pass meds, apply treatments and wound care, assist with anything needed with activities of daily living. If you are uncomfortable or can not see yourself assisting people with these things, then this is not the right profession for you...